Every week we will bring you our advice on which signal-callers have the potential to help your fantasy teams win. We will look at the previous weeks’ performances, the quarterbacks’ supporting cast, the matchup, and smart statistical insights to offer you the clearest picture of which QB to pick up from your waiver wire.
Remember, we will only consider QBs who are less than 70% rostered in Yahoo! leagues so as to give you an honest chance at picking one up for your team’s matchup.
Week 7 was the week of the return of the established quarterback as the big names put up some big scores which made our recommended streaming options look rather mediocre. Geno Smith (14.76 fantasy points in Yahoo!) threw two touchdown passes but turned the ball over twice as well in the Seahawks’ convincing if not uninspiring win over the Cardinals. Smith showed his usual clinical nature for much of this contest but as has crept into his game this season turnovers stunted his fantasy output. Jordan Love (16.30 fantasy points) produced a better fantasy performance than football performance for sure as he struggled to lead the Packers offense past a middle-of-the-road Broncos defense despite having most of his weapons back. Love was disappointing when it mattered and the feeling of trust in his ability is wavering in fantasy circles. And that brings us back to Sam Howell (10.46 fantasy points), who finally let us down with a impotent showing against an improving Giants defense as the Commanders dropped a game they couldn’t afford to lose. Howell failed to throw for a touchdown for the first time since his nightmare Week 4 showing against the Bills. With the Eagles up next, Howell will finally fall off our recommended streamers list.
| QB | Matchup | % Rostered (Yahoo!) | Fantasy Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geno Smith, Seahawks | SEA vs. ARI | 67% | 14.76 |
| Jordan Love, Packers | GBP at DEN | 65% | 16.30 |
| Sam Howell, Commanders | WAS at NYG | 56% | 10.46 |
Going into Week 8 we have…wait, zero teams on bye. The genius of AWS no doubt.
With that knowledge in mind, let’s look at our recommendations for streaming.
| QB | Matchup | % Rostered (Yahoo!) | Projected Fantasy Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| C.J. Stroud, Texans | HOU at CAR | 65% | 16.36 |
| Desmond Ridder, Falcons | ATL at TEN | 13% | 13.28 |
| Mac Jones, Patriots | NE at MIA | 9% | 11.77 |
“Pumpkin of the Year”
C.J. Stroud, Texans at Panthers
Refreshed after the bye week, C.J. Stroud returns with a plus matchup against the Panthers after posting 20+ fantasy points in three of his last four games. Stroud has been electric in the pocket and has thrown at least two touchdowns in four of his last five games. He has shown chemistry with all of his receiving corps and has proven to be a leader on and off the field. We are looking forward to seeing what Stroud has in store for us after the bye.
7️⃣ finds 2️⃣ to extend our lead 🤘 pic.twitter.com/0pqV5xmqpB
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 15, 2023
“Run Ridder, Run”
Desmond Ridder, Falcons at Titans
The ups and downs of Desmond Ridder know no end this season and for all his faults and frustrations there is also light, but how bright is yet to be decided. Ridder has shown maturity and a sense of learning from his mistakes which was evident in his final drive to setup a game-winning field goal last week. If he can establish a more regular connection with his primary receivers, Drake London and Kyle Pitts. Some of that is on Arthur Smith too, and that will be the next step in the evolution of Ridder. A vulnerable Titans outfit provide the perfect opportunity for Ridder and the team to take the next step.
Welcome back to Tampa, @MillerTime___10 ‼️
📺 FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/0yCLFgXs3m
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 22, 2023
“Return of the Mac”
Mac Jones, Patriots at Dolphins
Yes, I said I wouldn’t do it but here I am. Did Mac Jones turn a corner last week? Lets hope so because the embattled New England starter will need to do everything he did last week against the Bills and more if he is to overcome the Dolphins offense. Jones put up his second best fantasy score of the season last week and showed a significant improvement in rhythm and execution. Hold your breath, start him with hope.
MIKE GESICKI ON #NATIONALTIGHTENDSDAY‼️@MacJones_10 | @mikegesicki
📺 on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/4MWKEuAN3X
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 22, 2023
Don’t hesitate to give me your thoughts and hit me up for questions on X at @benjaminhaller1.
Feature image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter) / Photography by Randy Litzinger/ Icon Sportswire